San Fernando football runs its way past Dorsey to 8th City title

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San Fernando #42 Nigel Edwards raises the Championship throphy. San Fernando defeated Dorsey 28-21 for the City Section D1 football final played at El Camino College. Torrance, CA 12/2/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

TORRANCE — What better way for the San Fernando High School football team to carry tradition than to run with it.

It’s been the staple of success for the Tigers, who captured the school’s eighth football L.A. City Section title in program history Saturday night with a 28-21 victory over Dorsey at El Camino College for the Division I crown.

Trevor Gill, Kyle Bryant, and Nehemiah Thompson have been the ‘three-headed monster’ all season, compiling more than 3,400 yards and more than 45 touchdowns on the ground this year.

Dorsey, a team that boasts running back Charles Mincy Jr., came out and scored on its first possession, showing it can run too. But the Dons were no match for San Fernando’s running attack.

San Fernando #5 Andrew Frias evades “d19” and Dorsey #22 Logan Bush in the first half. San Fernando played Dorsey for the City Section D1 football final played at El Camino College. Torrance, CA 12/2/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

San Fernando #5 Andrew Frias congratulates San Fernando #8 Trevor Gill on his first quarter TD. San Fernando played Dorsey for the City Section D1 football final played at El Camino College. Torrance, CA 12/2/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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San Fernando #42 Nigel Edwards raises the Championship throphy. San Fernando defeated Dorsey 28-21 for the City Section D1 football final played at El Camino College. Torrance, CA 12/2/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

San Fernando #3 Anthony Davila takes his turn raising the cup. San Fernando defeated Dorsey 28-21 for the City Section D1 football final played at El Camino College. Torrance, CA 12/2/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

San Fernando defeated Dorsey 28-21 for the City Section D1 football final played at El Camino College. Torrance, CA 12/2/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

San Fernando #8 Trevor Gill runs for yardage against Dorsey #15 Isaiah Smalls in the first half. San Fernando played Dorsey for the City Section D1 football final played at El Camino College. Torrance, CA 12/2/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Dorsey #8 Mekhi Ellis is sacked by San Fernando #54 Jaivontrel Eavan turner in the first half. San Fernando played Dorsey for the City Section D1 football final played at El Camino College. Torrance, CA 12/2/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Dorsey #8 Mekhi Ellis is sacked on the one yard line by San Fernando #44 Trenton Gill in the first half. San Fernando played Dorsey for the City Section D1 football final played at El Camino College. Torrance, CA 12/2/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Tigers’ quarterback Andrew Frias polished off a 1-yard touchdown run after Gill set it up with a 30-yard run of his own. The Tigers forced a Dorsey three-and-out on the ensuing possession and took a 14-7 lead after Gill found his way the end zone on a 7-yard run. Gill finished with 134 yards and a touchdown.

“The power pitch was working tonight, smash-mouth football,” said Gill.

San Fernando took a 21-7 lead into halftime.

It was then Bryant’s turn, who scored on a 4-yard run in the third quarter to make it 28-7. Bryant added 87 yards and a touchdown.

“We game planned for this game knowing it wasn’t going to be easy like some of our other playoff games,” Bryant said. “We expected a dog fight.”

Dorsey made things interesting with two big passing plays for 70 and 67 yards from Mehki Ellis to Dion Bascom and Mincy Jr., respectively, creating a one-possession game with 32 seconds left, but it was too late.

The Tigers dominated their competition through the Division I playoffs, outscoring their opponents 170-42en route to Robert Garcia’s third City title as head coach. Dorsey, a storied City program itself was attempting to lift its sixth City title.

“This championship might be the most special because nobody believed in us,” Garcia said. “We were the No. 1 seed and still they doubted us…the best part about this championship is that it’s not against just anybody, it’s Dorsey.”

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